When Everything Changed

The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present

By: Gail Collins

Narrated by: Christina Moore

Length: 15 hrs

Publisher's Summary

An enthralling blend of oral history and Gail Collins' keen research, this definitive look at 50 years of feminist progress shimmers with the amusing, down-to-earth liberal tone that is this New York Times columnist's trademark.

©2009 Gail Collins (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"An engrossing account ... deadly serious and great fun to read at the same time ... sure to become required reading." ( Kirkus Reviews)

The book I have been waiting for!

I always wondered why there was so little written by and about women my age who were born in the fifties/ sixties and came of age living through the women's liberation movement. Ms. Collins has finally written such a book. It is comprehensive, easy to listen to, full of stories, passion, and truth about what some women did that changed the lives of American women forever and ever. I recalled everything as Ms. Collins it, and I enjoyed reliving the events. I learned so much about the specific women who lead this movement. They are the unsung heroes of my life. Ms. Collins takes us up to the current times, with an honest appraisal of the achievements and the work that still remains. Recommended for every woman, of all ages.

Interesting Recap of an Era!

I would never have read this book if it hadn’t been a book club pick, but I’m so glad I did! I thought that since I’d lived through the period of time covered in the book, I didn’t need to read about it. Wrong! Gail Collins really gave a lot of info and background that both added to and made all my memories come alive.

For example, I knew Billy Jean King had played that “Match of the Sexes” with Bobby Riggs in 1973, but I’d forgotten who he was and how he’d first beaten Margaret Court. I turns out that I really didn’t know much about Billy Jean, either. So it was extremely entertaining for me, especially as a tennis player, to read about her upbringing, how she really was the genesis of women’s tennis as a pro sport on a par with men’s tennis, and then about this match. Billy Jean really knew how to play it up and make a satire of the whole Bobby Riggs’ challenge. The author said, “Whether women had strong backhands was secondary to whether they could stand up to people who wanted to make fun of them.” So when the producers proposed that she be carried in to the tennis court on a cheesy Egyptian style litter held up by 6 scantily clad young men, she said, “God, that would be great! “ She beat Riggs at his own game, literally, in front of 48 million TV viewers! Fantastic!!

Collins talks about how the book Our Bodies Ourselves grew out of a group of women who got together in 1969 to discuss the shortcomings in the way doctors treated women in that era (paternalistic, judgmental, non-informative). Who doesn’t remember that book about owning our bodies and all sorts of things about the biology of being a woman that grew out of that group! I had a copy, that’s for sure. Then she tells about a woman who showed up for a meeting of the campus women’s group at Antioch and said, “We all got little mirrors and examined our cervixes.” Great quote from Nora Ephron, who said, “It was hard not to long for the days when an evening with the girls meant – bridge.”

The book was very well researched and factual. Collins did a great job of treating all races and classes fairly and painting a full picture of the women’s movement. She really started before 1960 with background information that helped to put the coming changes into perspective. That early part was really interesting and helpful. Then, as she moved into the 1960’s and onward, I think she summed it up pretty well when she said that the post war economy, soaring expectations of the post war boom, the declining income of men in the 70’s, the birth control pill, and the civil rights movement which made women aware of their own lowly status all came together to form “a benevolent version of the perfect storm” and resulted in all the cataclysmic changes of the 60’s and 70’s. I found the beginning chapters that dealt with the years up through the 70’s were the most fascinating. I supposed the reason I only gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I felt the later sections on the 80’s, 90’s, and the new millennium didn’t have as much cohesiveness or drive as these earlier sections. At 480 pages/15 hours, it’s a long book, and perhaps this first part would have been enough – at least for me.

Also, I felt like the titles of the short sections in the book were too cutesy and distracting. A more descriptive and academic way of naming the chapters and sections would help the reader – and especially the listener – to mentally organize the huge amount of information while listening.

a young people must read book

When I think that women's right to vote wasn't accepted by a southern state until the 1980s it's staggering. This book is well written and draws together events that all women, and those who appreciate wives, sisters, mothers, daughters and friends, should read.

Individual bite-sized narratives, not a history

There is interesting information from personal perspectives, but am absence of the larger picture. Key events, like the creation of women's history month, or of the emergence of women's studies on college campuses are gross omissions. There is more historical detail on the sixties than the decades that followed, and the chronology is too casual, skipping back and forth through the decades. Some interesting narratives include the role of women of color in the civil rights movement are well described. I listened all the way through but now looking for a better book

A book of information but not well organized

As a child of the 60's who entered the working world in the 70's I was fascinated to read this. I confess that the facts as presented gave me much insight into an evolution through which I lived and benefited, and I am glad that I made it through the whole book. BUT it was not well organized, seemed to jump around with non-sequitur which only later coma together. It was a bit of challenge to keep interest

Going Back In Time

I once told my daughters that girls always had to wear dresses to school. That rule changed when I was in the 7th grade. They couldn't believe that the schools could actually make girls wear dresses. So I gave them this book to listen to and their response after listening to it was "no way!" Well, yes way. Every young woman should listen to this book. It chronicles just how far things have come for women in the last 50 or so years. A wonderful listen. So truthful and anyone of our age will enjoy this book immensely.

Attention all high school history teachers!

Would you listen to When Everything Changed again? Why?

I would listen to this book again to take notes the second time around to use in my lecture notes while I'm teaching.

What did you like best about this story?

I thought I knew a lot about women's history, but I learned SO much from this book.

What does Christina Moore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tone, cleverness, pacing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No- too dense- too intense- had to process the content-

Any additional comments?

Gail Collins is my new hero (or should I say heroine ;)

Reveals Women's Lives, Large and Small

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would absolutely recommend this book. It was an invaluable education for me, as a young woman, to see the struggles and triumphs of previous generations and get some perspective on my own.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

It shows many aspects of women's experiences across a broad spectrum of lifestyles, social class, and race. Wonderfully, it is not just about famous women, or women who were involved in the women's movement, but also offers snapshots of "ordinary" women living their lives in the midst of history. It is alternately funny, moving, and infuriating!

Must reading

I just loved this book I’m sad to be finished. I like the content and the breezy writing style of MS Collins.

I appreciate women's struggles much better now...

I enjoyed this book so much! I, one day, sat up with this super-strong desire to know about the history of the rights and opportunities of women in recent history.

Someone on my FB responded to my plea for personal stories about women's experiences and recommended this book to me. I love so many of the anecdotes. Women are strong , Intelligent and inspiring.

Also, I have so much more gratitude toward so very many things...choice , opportunities that I have. I may be too young to remember much of this "girl-fight", but this book thoroughly got me caught up and ready to jump in and continue the cause!